Vehicle adaptable to various terrains

ABSTRACT

A vehicle is adaptable to various terrains. The vehicle includes a frame and two rolling sets connected to the frame. Each of the rolling sets includes two legs pivotally connected to the frame, two casters, a pin and a wheel. Each of the legs defines a slot. Each of the casters is connected to one of the legs. The pin is driven in the motor through the slots so that the motor is moved when the legs are pivoted. The wheel is operably connected to the motor so that the casters and the wheel always grip the ground firmly no matter the casters go up or down.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to vehicles and, more particularly, to avehicle adaptable to various terrains.

2. Related Prior Art

Various vehicles have been devised for diversified purposes such astransportation and recreation. The vehicles have become indispensabletools in modern societies.

However, driven on slopes, stairs or bumpy terrains or in short turns,most vehicles, if not all, have their centers of gravity lifted and inworst cases turn over. Some vehicles perform well on slopes, stairs orbumpy terrains. These vehicles generally include high profiles based onbig wheels and high chassis. However, the high profiles mean heel orlist in short turns. Some other vehicles perform well in short turns.These vehicles generally include low profiles based on low chassis.However, the low profiles mean bumping along the slopes, stairs or bumpyterrains.

The need for a vehicle that performs well in various conditions has notbeen satisfied. The present invention is intended to obviate or at leastalleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a vehicle is adaptable to variousterrains. The vehicle includes a frame and two rolling sets connected tothe frame. Each of the rolling sets includes two legs pivotallyconnected to the frame, two casters, a pin and a wheel. Each of the legsdefines a slot. Each of the casters is connected to one of the legs. Thepin is driven in the motor through the slots so that the motor is movedwhen the legs are pivoted. The wheel is operably connected to the motorso that the wheel always grips the ground no matter the casters go up ordown.

The primary advantage of the vehicle of the present invention is thatthe casters and the wheel always grip the ground firmly no matter thecasters go up or down.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will become moreapparent from the detailed description referring to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of thepreferred embodiment referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a vehicle adjustable to various terrainsaccording to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 3 on a plain surface.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 4 up a slope.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 4 down a slope.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 4 over a bump.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, there is shown a vehicle adaptable tovarious terrains according to the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. The vehicle includes a frame A and two rolling sets eachinstalled on a side of the frame A.

The frame A includes two longitudinal bars A1, two crossbars A2 and abox A4. Each of the longitudinal bars Al is formed with two pivots 10. Alug A3 is formed at each of the ends of one of the crossbars A2. Twolugs A5 are formed at each of the ends of the other crossbar A2. A seator any other proper carriage can be installed on the frame A in order tocarry personnel or goods. At least one battery can be put in the box A4.

Each of the rolling sets includes a support 21 pivotally connected toone of the crossbars A2, a motor 22 securely connected to the support21, two legs 11 pivotally connected to the support 21, a caster 13connected to each of the legs 11 and a wheel 23 operably connected tothe motor 22.

The support 21 includes a pair of lugs 211 on the top, a lug 212 at anend and a lug 213 at an opposite end. The lug 212 is put between a pairof lugs A5. A pin (not shown) is fit in the lugs 212 and A5 so that thesupport 21 is pivotally connected to one of the crossbars A2. A spring25 hooks the lug 21 3 at an end and hooks the lug A3 at an opposite end.

The motor 22 includes a power chamber 221, a transmission 222 operablyconnected to the power chamber 221 and an axle 223 operably connected tothe transmission 222. The wheel 23 is connected to the axle 223. Themotor 22 may be an electrical motor, an engine, a turbine or any properpower device.

Each of the legs 11 includes a bent configuration consisting of a shortsection 112 and a long section 115. An aperture 111 is defined in eachof the legs 11 between the sections 112 and 115. The short section 112of one of the legs 11 is formed with a lug 113. The short section 112 ofthe other lug 11 is formed with a pair of lugs 114. A slot 12 is definedin each of the lugs 113 and 114.

Each of the pivots 10 is fit in the aperture 111 of one of the legs 11so that the legs 11 are pivotally connected to the frame A. The lug 113is put between the lugs 114 that are put in the lugs 211. A pin 20 isfit in the lugs 211,114 and 113. Because of the slots 12, the legs 11can be pivoted relative to the frame A.

The operation and adapting of the vehicle to various terrains will bedescribed referring to FIGS. 4 through 7. The description will be basedon only one of the rolling sets.

Referring to FIG. 4, the vehicle goes on a plain surface. The weight ofthe vehicle is mainly carried on the wheel 23. The axle 223 lifts thepin 20 and therefore the short sections 112 of the legs 11. Thus, thelong sections 115 of the legs 11 are lowered so that the casters 13 arelowered onto the plain surface. The lower portions of the wheel 23 andthe casters 13 are in a line. The heavier a load is on the frame A, thetighter the wheel 23 and the casters 13 contact the plain surface.

Referring to FIG. 5, the vehicle goes up a slope from the plain surface.The weight of the vehicle is mainly carried on the wheel 23 and the rearcaster 13. As the front leg 11 is pivotally connected to the frame A,the front caster 13 goes up the slope when driven by means of the wheel23, and the lifting of the front caster 13 will not entail the liftingof the wheel 23. The wheel 23 maintains its grip of the plain surface.The tilting of the vehicle is encountered by means of the rear caster 13so that the vehicle will not tumble.

Referring to FIG. 6, the vehicle goes down a slope from the plainsurface. The weight of the vehicle is mainly carried on the wheel 23 andthe front caster 13. As the front leg 11 is pivotally connected to theframe A, the front caster 13 goes down the slope when driven by means ofthe wheel 23, and the lowering of the front caster 13 will not entailthe lowering of the wheel 23. The wheel 23 maintains its grip of theplain surface. The tilting of the vehicle is encountered by means of thefront caster 13 so that the vehicle will not tumble.

Referring to FIG. 7, the vehicle goes over a bump. The operation of thevehicle over the bump is like a combination of the operation of thevehicle described referring to FIG. 5 with the operation of the vehicledescribed referring to FIG. 6. When the front caster 13 goes up on theupside of the bump, the wheel 23 maintains its grip of the plainsurface. When the front caster 13 goes down on the downside of the bump,the wheel 23 grips the upside of the bump. When the wheel 23 is on thebump, it grips the bump. Because of the spring 25, the casters 13 gripthe plain surface.

The present invention has been described via detailed illustration ofthe preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variationsfrom the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of thepresent invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limitthe scope of the present invention defined in the claims.

1. A vehicle adaptable to various terrains, the vehicle comprising aframe and two rolling sets each of which is connected to the frame andcomprises: two legs pivotally connected to the frame, each of the legsdefining a slot; two casters each connected to one of the legs; a motor;a pin driven in the motor through the slots so that the motor is movedwhen the legs are pivoted; and a wheel operably connected to the motorso that the casters and the wheel always grip the ground firmly nomatter that the casters go up or down.
 2. The vehicle according to claim1 wherein each of the legs comprises a first section in which the slotis defined and a second section to which the caster is connected.
 3. Thevehicle according to claim 2 wherein the first section is shorter thanthe second section.
 4. The vehicle according to claim 2 wherein thefirst section extends from the second section at an obtuse angle.
 5. Thevehicle according to claim 2 wherein the frame comprises two pivots oneach of two sides, wherein each of the legs defines an aperture forreceiving one of the pivots so that the legs are pivotally connected tothe frame.
 6. The vehicle according to claim 1 wherein each of therolling sets further comprises a support for connecting the motor to theframe.
 7. The vehicle according to claim 6 wherein the support ismovably connected to the frame.
 8. The vehicle according to claim 7wherein the support is pivotally connected to the frame.
 9. The vehicleaccording to claim 8 wherein each of the rolling sets further comprisesa spring installed between the support and the frame.
 10. The vehicleaccording to claim 6 wherein the pin is driven in the support.
 11. Thevehicle according to claim 10 wherein the support comprises two lugs inwhich the pin is driven.
 12. The vehicle according to claim 11 whereineach of the legs comprises at least one lug in which the slot isdefined, wherein the lugs of the legs are put between the lugs of thesupport.
 13. The vehicle according to claim 12 wherein first one of thelegs comprises a lug while second one of the legs comprises two lugsbetween which the lug of the first leg is installed.